… A Time to Grow (Manuscript)

SHIROBAI - MAMA-SAN | EPISODE 009
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Hana smartly flicked down the kickstand on her old bicycle with her foot and made sure it wouldn't fall over in the gravelled parking area at their destination, the Konda Hachimangu Shrine.

She then squatted down in front of Emi and helped to remove her helmet and neaten her slightly mussed up hair. Emi, accustomed to all the fussing by now, waited patiently for her mother to stand up and take off her own helmet.

Subconsciously, Emi held up her arms to her mother, waiting to be carried but this time, Hana looked at Emi seriously n shook her head. She lowered her voice and said quietly, “No. It's time you learnt how to pay respects to Kami-sama on your own. You're big enough now, understand?” Emi looked at her mother, blinked, and decided to nod as if she understood what was happening beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Taking Emi by the hand, Hana led the little girl to one side of the concrete torii. She then said to Emi, “Do EXACTLY as I do, Emi.” Emi nodded obediently.

Hana made a slight, but respectful bow, then she looked over at Emi expectantly and nodded for her to do the same. Emi did a fairly decent imitation of her mother's bow and Hana nodded approvingly as she explained, “Remember this, Emi, you must ALWAYS stand to one side of the gate and bow BEFORE you go into the grounds of ANY shrine, understand?" Emi nodded, then spoke up, “But what about Buddhist temples, mummy?" Hana flashed Emi a quick look of disapproval as she raised a finger to her lips. Poor Emi, realising that she had made a minor fumble, pulled her neck short like a turtle and covered her mouth with her little hand.

Noting Emi's quick and appropriate response, Hana gave the child a small smile and nodded approvingly at the little girl. Without a word, Hana led Emi to the hand washing area just inside the grounds of the Shinto shrine.

Hana reached out to pick up a water scoop, looked at Emi to make sure that she was paying attention, then she gestured with the hand that was carrying the scoop to make sure that Emi understood that she had to pick up the scoop with the right hand. Hana then filled the scoop full of cold, spring water and carefully drizzled some over her left hand as she kept an eye on Emi to make sure that the little girl was following every movement like a hawk.

Hana was almost smug to note that Emi's large eyes were glued on the actions she was carefully demonstrating so Emi would have no trouble following them.

Next, Hana moved the scoop to her left hand instead and this time, she carefully drizzled water over her right hand to “wash” it instead. After that, Hana took the scoop back in her right hand again. She then cupped her left hand and poured a little water into it and raised the water to her lips. Hana was careful to not splash the water carelessly around her mouth. Instead, she gently patted her mouth with the water. Finally, with whatever water that was left in the bowl of the scoop, Hana carefully raised it upright with both hands, holding the bottom end of the scoop’s handle. She then allowed the remaining water to slowly run down the shaft of the handle to clean it. Only when she had finished this cleaning ritual with just one single scoop of water, did Hana return the scoop to its rightful place.

Hana turned to look at Emi, who, by this time, looked sufficiently lost and overwhelmed by the protocol. Hana smiled a carefully veiled smile as she thought of Emi before motioning to Emi to pick up a water scoop of her own in her right hand.

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Author’s Note
This story is dedicated to all single mothers out there. It is a work of fiction set in Osaka, Japan and written with much love and devotion. While the characters and events are fictional, every effort has been made to portray everyday life, work, and society as realistically as possible.
Some occupations, procedures, and institutions may be simplified or adapted for storytelling purposes.

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